Vehicle direction-indicator.



J. A. GIVENS.

VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 3, 1911.

- Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

JEREMIAH A. GIV-ENS, OF LOS AN GELEs, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFT0 VEHICLE DIRECTION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed l l ay s, 1911. Serial No. 624,777.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH A. GIVENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Los Angeles. California, have invented a. new and usefulVehicle Direction-Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

In the crowded streets and thoroughfares many accidents occur from theinability of pedestrians and the drivers of vehicles to determine whenother passing vehicles in tend to change their course. The danger ofsuch accidents is especially great atcorners and cross streetsfrequented by automobiles and other high speed vehicles. Pedestriansoften step in front of vehicles'which suddenly and unexpectedly round acorner when from every visible indication the vehicle was to have beendriven straight ahead.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiveapparatus by-nieans of which the driver of any vehicle may exhibit asignal indicating the directionin which he intends to travel. The meansby which I accomplish this beneficial result are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of an automobileequipped with my direction indicator. vFig. 2 is a front view of anautomobile and shows the indicator shifted from the position shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my invention and means for attaching toan automobile. Fig. 4 is a view of the latching device taken on thedotted line ww in Fig. 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 5is a fragment-a1 bottom view of a portion of the automobile and parts ofmy device attached thereto.

Throughout the several figures like characters refer to like parts.

Referring to the details of construction: 1 is the body of an automobilehaving a customary hood 2 at the front part of the machine.

3 is a wind shield of an ordinary type.

A hollow boxing 4 is attached to the front end of the hood in the mannershown. A shafting 5 passes through the box 4 and a collar '6 is securedto the bottom of .said shafting by means of a cutter pin or any othersuitable means. A crown wheel or miter gear wheel 7 attached to theshaft 5, bearing on the upper end of the box 4, serves the shafting 5.

the purpose of a collar in supporting the said shaft. This gear 7engaging a. spur tooth or miter gear wheel 8 serves to operate Ashafting 9 extending along the top of the hood carries the gear 8.

10 is a bearing provided for shaft 9 near its forward end.

11 is ahand wheel attached to the inner end of the shaft 9.

12 is an open bearing placed near the back end of the shaft 9.

A square shank 14 formed on the back end of the shaft 9 engages a squareopen box 13 for the purpose of locking the signal in place.

A suitable indicator 15 is attached to the up er end of the shaft 5 andturns with it. A, at 16 attached to the shaft 5 near its lower endarranged to rotate between the bumpers 17 and 18 serves to stop theindicator at the extreme side position.

The method of operation is briefly de scribed as follows: In drivingstraight forward along a road or street. the indicator 15 points in thedirection shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. The square shank 14 on the shaft 9is in the square box 13 and revents the indicator from being turned ythe wind or the vibration of the machine. Desiring to turn to thedrivers right the shaft 9 is lifted out of the box 13 and the roundportion of the shaft is placed in box 12. By means of the handwhcel 11the shaft is turned one fourth of a revolution. the gears T and .8 beingequal, this turns the shaft 5 and its attached indicator until it pointsto the driver's right, the osition shown in Fig. 2. At this point the ar16 strikes the bumper 17. A person approaching has visible warning thatthe machine intends to turn to the right. If desired the indicator maybe locked in this position by replacing the square shank in the box 13.The method of changing the indicator to the left is identical. I

Any suitable means may be used to lock the shaft 9 and as there are manywell known arrangements by which this can be accomplished I do notdesire to limit myself to the particular device shown.

Othefdesirable ilaces may also be found on a vehicle at winch theinvention may be attached as well as any of the well known 7 ing alongthe means for transmitting motion, and I do not desire to limit myselfto the particular manner in which my device is applied.

The direction indicator is adapted to any sort of vehicle and should beused on all.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a vehicle direction indicator: thecombination of a boxing attached to the front of an automobile; avertical shafting supported by said boxing; an indicator attached to theupper end of said shafting; a gear wheel attached to said verticalshafting; a horizontal shafting supported on the hood of an automobile;means for supporting said horizontal shafting; a ear on the front end ofsaid horizonta sha ing adapted to enmesh the gear attached to thevertical shafting; a rectangular shank formed -on the back end of thehorizontal shafting' a rectangular box '13 adapted to receive an retainthe said rectangular shank; and a handwheel attached to said horizontalshaft. 2. In a vehicle direction indicator: the combination of avertical boxing attached to the front of an automobile; a verticalshafting supported bi; said boxin an indicator attached to t e upper enof said shafting; a gear wheel attached to said vertical shafting; ahorizontal shafting extendtop of the hood of an automobile; a gear wheelon the front end of said horizontal shaft adapted toengage and operatethe said gear wheel attached to the said vertical shafting; a bearingadapted to retain the outer end of said horizontal shafting; a squareshank formed on the back end of said horizontal shaftin an open squarebox adapted to receive ant? retain saids uare shank; an open round boxin which the ori zontal shaft' is retained while being rotated; and adiand wheel attached to the back end of said horizontal shafting.

3. In a vehicle direction indicator: the combination of a verticalboxing attached to the front of an automobile; a vertical shafting suported by said boxin an indicator attac ed to the upper en of .saidshaftin a bar attached to said vertical shaft; umpers adapted to stopsaid bar when the indicator is pointed to either side position; a gearwheel attached to said vertical shat-ting; a horizontal shaftingextending along the top of the hood of an automobile; a gear wheel onthe front end of said horizontal shaft adapted to engage and 0p eratethe said gear wheel attached to the said vertical shafting' a bearingada ted to retain the outer end 0% said horizonta shafting; a squareshank formed said. horizontal shaftin an open square box adapted toreceive an retam said s uare shank; an open round box in which theorizontal shafting is retained while bein rotated; and a hand wheelattached to the ck end of said horizontal shafting.

JEREMIAH A. GIVENS.

Witnesses Annaaw K. HANNA Mmmsnmu.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressingthe (Ionuniuioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0."

on the back of

